Tourism operators in Chiang Mai are urging the new government to deal with the persistent haze concern to attract the return of long-stay senior tourists, whose absence has dealt a significant blow to the province’s economy.
Blacklisted of the Move Forward Party, Pita Limjaroenrat, visited Chiang Mai last week and discussed environmental and tourism policies with local business representatives. According to Tanit Choomsang, the vice-president of the Tourism Council of Chiang Mai and president of the Chiang Mai Restaurant and Bistro Association, the heavy PM2.5 smog earlier this 12 months considerably impacted tourism confidence till the Songkran pageant in April, dissuading guests from booking journeys prematurely.
“Instead of staying for a whole year, a selection of senior tourists returned to their residence country to escape the smog season in Chiang Mai,” said Tanit. “Thailand has lost alternatives due to this ongoing problem.”
Tanit revealed that some Scandinavian long-stay retirees have vowed not to visit Chiang Mai any longer, leaving only short-stay tour groups. Japanese retirees, then again, chose to remain in the course of the smog season and adapted their life accordingly.
Despite the continued air pollution drawback, Chiang Mai’s market provide has steadily elevated over the previous few years because of the rising variety of elderly care and wellness centres. This demonstrates the robust demand for Chiang Mai as a potential wellness hub for the country.
“With extra Chinese people migrating to Chiang Mai, dad and mom are sending their youngsters to worldwide colleges in the province,” said Tanit. “Chiang Mai has potential as the country’s wellness hub, however the seasonal air air pollution paints the province in an unflattering gentle.”
Addressing the air pollution problem would bolster Chiang Mai’s economy and tourism sector, according to Tanit. Last week, the Tourism Council of Chiang Mai submitted a proposal for tourism improvement, which included Pita’s plans for solving PM2.5, growing the budget for local communities, making Chiang Mai an ASEAN hub for fighting haze, and enacting a Clean Air Act.
The council also requested the government develop new landmarks alongside present sites in Chiang Mai’s previous town. Recent data reveals that Chiang Mai acquired simply US$131 million in tourism revenue in the first 10 months of last 12 months, a far cry from Phuket’s US$3.9 billion throughout the same interval, reported Bangkok Post..